Hello and welcome to Episode 319 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Got someone on your team who just is not cutting it, but every time you think about dealing with it, you put it off for another day? Maybe you are hoping they will sort themselves out, maybe you are gathering more “evidence”, or maybe you are trying not to rock the boat. Either way, the issue rarely fixes itself, and the longer it drags on, the messier it gets.

I keep seeing this with small business owners, and I get why. Managing underperformance is one of the hardest parts of leading a team, especially when your team is small, the person plays a big role, or there is a personal relationship involved. It is easy to avoid the conversation, overthink it, or soften things so much that nothing actually changes. But when we handle employee underperformance badly, we usually make it worse for everyone involved, including the rest of the team.

In this episode, I unpack why so many business owners struggle to manage an underperforming employee and the common leadership styles that get in the way. I talk through the three real reasons performance issues happen in the first place: a skills gap, a motivation problem, or a cultural mismatch. That distinction matters more than most people realise, because the right solution depends entirely on the real cause. If you misdiagnose the problem, you will often apply the wrong fix, and that is when frustration, resentment and poor team culture start to build.

I also walk you through what to do next if you have a problem employee on your team, including when to coach, when to re-engage, and when it is time to start planning an exit. This is a practical conversation for small business owners who want to handle performance management clearly, calmly and without making a hard situation even harder.

In this episode we cover:

• Why small business owners often avoid dealing with underperformance until it becomes a bigger issue
• The common leadership habits that can make employee performance problems worse
• The three main causes of underperformance at work and how to spot the difference
• Why getting the diagnosis right is the key to fixing the issue properly

What to do next, whether the employee needs support, re-engagement or an exit plan

If you want practical, no-nonsense advice on managing your team delivered straight to your inbox every week, head to https://www.peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au/join.

Links & Resources:

💬 DM Kristy-Lee on Instagram @kristy.lee.billett and let me know if you have questions about underperforming employees email me at hello@peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au

Hello and welcome to Episode 318 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Do you have someone on your team right now where something just feels... off? Maybe you knew when you hired them, maybe it crept up on you slowly — but either way, you're still holding on. And if that's you, this episode is going to hit close to home.

This is one of my most listened-to episodes and I'm bringing it back because I keep seeing this play out in businesses every single week. The hiring market has shifted since I first recorded this, but the problem hasn't changed one bit. Business owners are still holding onto the wrong people for too long — and it's the rest of the team that quietly pays the price.

In this episode I walk you through exactly what a wrong hire looks like in the early stages (because when you're in the weeds it can be surprisingly hard to see), the real reasons we keep people around even when we know we shouldn't, and the three ways holding onto the wrong person erodes your team's morale and motivation from the inside out. The third one in particular — the trust piece — is the one most business owners don't see coming until the damage is already done.

If you've been avoiding a difficult decision about someone on your team, this episode will give you the clarity and the push you need to take action.

In this episode we cover:

• The five red flags that signal you've made a wrong hire
• Why we talk ourselves into keeping people we know aren't right
• The three ways a wrong hire silently destroys team morale
• Why your team will forgive the mistake — but not the inaction

Ready to take action? If you're dealing with a wrong hire right now and need support book a clarity call to find out how I can help:

If you’d like to book a 15 minute clarity call with me, do that here: https://calendly.com/kristyleebillett/chat

Links & Resources:

💬 DM Kristy-Lee on Instagram @kristy.lee.billett

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyleebillett/

Or email me at hello@peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au

An Invitation:

If you’d like to connect with other businesses who are also juggling the challenges of teams, I’d love you to join us inside our free Facebook Group, The People Powered Community, so I can learn more about what’s working for you and any challenges you might be having.

Join Here.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrsupportaustralia

Hello and welcome to Episode 317 of The People Powered Business Podcast.

In this episode, we are tackling one of the most confusing and high-risk areas for business owners right now, the difference between employees and contractors.

I’m joined by Jeanette Jifkins from Onyx Legal, and together we unpack why this isn’t as simple as choosing what you want to call someone. We explore how recent Fair Work changes, alongside ATO requirements, have made this space more complex than ever, and why getting it wrong can have serious financial and legal consequences for your business.

We dive into the legal perspective on what truly separates an employee from a contractor, including the critical role of control, the “whole of relationship” test, and what courts actually look for when making a determination.

Throughout the conversation, we share practical examples, common mistakes business owners make, and how contractor relationships can easily drift into employment without you even realising. If you’re currently engaging contractors or considering it, this episode will help you understand your risks and what you need to do to protect your business.

Key Takeaways:

• You can’t simply choose whether someone is a contractor or employee, the law determines it
• The level of control you have is a major factor in defining the relationship
• The “whole of relationship” test looks beyond contracts to how the working relationship actually functions
• Contractor arrangements can evolve over time and increase your risk if not managed properly
• Documentation, clear agreements, and ongoing management are essential to protecting your business

Links & Resources:

💬 DM Kristy-Lee on Instagram @kristy.lee.billett

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyleebillett/

Or email me at hello@peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au

An Invitation:

If you’d like to connect with other businesses who are also juggling the challenges of teams, I’d love you to join us inside our free Facebook Group, The People Powered Community, so I can learn more about what’s working for you and any challenges you might be having.

Join Here.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrsupportaustralia

An Invitation:

If you’d like to book a 15 minute clarity call with me, do that here: https://calendly.com/kristyleebillett/chat

To Connect with Jeanette:

https://onyx.legal/

https://www.instagram.com/onyxlegal_bris/